Put Your AD here!

Alex Murdaugh could get new South Carolina trial as Supreme Court agrees to take up jury tampering case

Alex Murdaugh could get new South Carolina trial as Supreme Court agrees to take up jury tampering case


This article was originally published on FOX News - National. You can read the original article HERE

Join Fox News for access to this content

You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading.

By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News' Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, which includes our Notice of Financial Incentive.

Please enter a valid email address.

The South Carolina Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to take on Alex Murdaugh's appeal based on jury tampering allegations.

Murdaugh, 56, was convicted in 2023 for killing his wife and son on a family hunting estate in 2021 as a means to get access to life insurance funds as his ever-growing stack of financial crimes came to light in 2021. He is serving two life sentences for the murders.

The former South Carolina legal scion appealed the decision on allegations that former Colleton County Court clerk Becky Hill, who presided over the infamous double murder trial, tampered with the jury. 

The state Supreme Court took on that case earlier this year. In January, retired South Carolina Supreme Court Justice Jean Toal ruled that she did not believe a new trial was needed for Murdaugh after hearing from all 12 jurors who convicted Murdaugh in court; only one of those 12 said Hill influenced her decision.

ALEX MURDAUGH COURT CLERK BECKY HILL MISUSED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON PAINT SUPPLIES, DOG BED, GIFTS: COMPLAINT

Alex-Murdaugh-Financial-Crimes

Alex Murdaugh, convicted of killing his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, in June 2021, sits during a hearing on a motion for a retrial, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024 at the Richland County Judicial Center in Columbia, South Carolina.

The juror, referred to as Juror Z, said Hill told jurors to watch Murdaugh "closely" and watch his "actions," adding that she reached a guilty verdict because of the clerk's comments. Juror Z also testified that other jurors also made her feel pressured to deliver a guilty verdict, as her affidavit stated.

"To me…she made it seem like he was already guilty," Juror Z, the first to testify Monday, said when asked how the clerk inspired her verdict.

ALEX MURDAUGH COURT CLERK BECKY HILL RESIGNS AFTER ALLEGATIONS OF JURY TAMPERING

Rebecca Hill wearing a gray scarf

Rebecca Hill arrives at the "Today" show studio in New York City on March 6, 2023. She was the court clerk in the double-murder trial of Alex Murdaugh. (Jennifer Mitchell for Fox News Digital)

Toal said before her ruling that while Hill was "attracted by the siren call of celebrity" and had made "fleeting and foolish comments," the jurors took their assignments seriously in convicting Murdaugh.

Hill, who co-authored a book about the Murdaugh trial — and later admitted that a passage in the book had been plagiarized — is also facing 76 counts of misconduct. She is accused of using her official position as Colleton County clerk for financial gain, specifically to promote her book.

Hill resigned as court clerk in March.

The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office declined to comment on the Supreme Court's decision.

SOUTH CAROLINA JUDGE DENIES ALEX MURDAUGH'S REQUEST FOR A NEW MURDER TRIAL

Judge Jean Toal talks to the court during the Alex Murdaugh jury-tampering hearing at the Richland County Judicial Center

Judge Jean Toal talks to the court during the Alex Murdaugh jury-tampering hearing at the Richland County Judicial Center on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Andrew J. Whitaker/The Post And Courier via AP, Pool)

Murdaugh was also sentenced to 27 years in November 2023 for his financial crimes. He agreed to plead guilty to 22 counts — including breach of trust, money laundering, forgery and tax evasion — out of about 100 counts totaling as much as $10 million in exchange for the 27-year prison sentence.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Murdaugh previously pleaded guilty to 22 counts of financial fraud and money laundering in federal court.

Fox News' Samantha Daigle contributed to this report.

This article was originally published by FOX News - National. We only curate news from sources that align with the core values of our intended conservative audience. If you like the news you read here we encourage you to utilize the original sources for even more great news and opinions you can trust!

Read Original Article HERE



YubNub Promo
Header Banner

Comments

  Contact Us
  • Postal Service
    YubNub Digital Media
    361 Patricia Drive
    New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168
  • E-mail
    admin@yubnub.digital
  Follow Us
  About

YubNub! It Means FREEDOM! The Freedom To Experience Your Daily News Intake Without All The Liberal Dribble And Leftist Lunacy!.


Our mission is to provide a healthy and uncensored news environment for conservative audiences that appreciate real, unfiltered news reporting. Our admin team has handpicked only the most reputable and reliable conservative sources that align with our core values.